AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Assessment

This past Thursday and Friday I passed a 2-day SPI assessment to renew my Single Pitch Instructor certification. The course was run by EMS Schools Guide Charlie Townsend and Kevin Johnson from Alpine Endeavors. 4 other students who took the Single Pitch Instructor Course last year made great classmates as we were examined for the skills required to hold an SPI certification. I’m looking forward to continuing with the AMGA Rock Guide program in the future.

Some group talk at the base of Square LedgeChristopher topping out a lead on the West FaceAndrew following Eileen’s leadChristopher and Eileen managing a top belay stationPreparing for some releasable lowersAndrew leads The ChimneySetting the “anchor”… I’ve never had a BD #6 to place before!Charlie arrives at Andrews belayChristopher being “rescued” by TrishaOne of my props for a topo reading clinic sessionMore skills being practiced on the Thin Air faceAssisted hauls and 3:1Ilene teaches a 15 minute anchor building clinic

We had great weather for both days and it was good to see what other aspiring guides and outdoor professionals are doing. I picked up a couple new ways to think about things, like Trish’s “4 Essentials vrs. the commonly known 10 Essentials, Christopher’s descriptive talk on waste management (especially how it relates to running a cadaver dog), Andrew’s participant engaged approach to coaching climbing movement, and Eileen’s discussion of some of the finer points of building anchors. While I’ve been immersed in this material for the last decade I’m never surprised that there is always something else to learn, or at-least a different way to think about a topic, or explain an idea… The learning really never stops!